African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)

African elephants are found south of the Sahara Desert to the southern tip of Africa, from the Atlantic (western) coast of Africa to the Indian Ocean in the east. Habitats vary as they can spend long periods without water. They can be found in deserts, forests, savannas, river valleys and marshes. Forest elephants typically reside in rainforests while savanna elephants are usually found in grasslands. Unlike their Asian counterparts, African elephants are not easily domesticated.

African elephants face a great threat from loss of habitat. The far less common forest elephant is under threat from logging and killing for meat. As well as ivory poaching, they face conflict with humans when they follow migration corridors that now lead to roads, villages, and crops.